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A grand interior with a large dome, arches, and a central courtyard with a fountain. 1
A mosque interior with ornate arches and Arabic calligraphy. 2
A group of people inside a historical building with ornate architecture. 3
A gazebo with a green dome and arches, surrounded by a cobblestone plaza and trees. 4
A historic building with a large staircase, a dome, and a crowd of people. 5
By Walks In Europe

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is RM 356 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 2h 30m
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Get to know Istanbul through three landmarks in its historic Old Town. Begin in Sultanahmet Square, where your expert guide traces the city’s story from Byzantine Constantinople to the Ottoman capital.

    Visit Hagia Sophia with pre-reserved tickets and see how Byzantine mosaics and Ottoman calligraphy share the same space. At the Blue Mosque, admire the İznik tiles and learn how the mosque continues to serve as a place of worship. Walk through the former Hippodrome, where the surviving obelisks mark the site of Byzantine chariot races and imperial ceremonies. The small-group format gives you time to look closely and ask questions along the way.

    Arriving by cruise ship? Choose the Galataport meeting option. Your guide will meet you at the port and accompany you by tram to Sultanahmet. The tram fare to the Old Town is included with this option.

Activity location

  • Sultanahmet Square
    • Istanbul, Turkiye

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Ersoy Bufe
    • 40 At Meydanı Caddesi
    • 34122, Binbirdirek, İstanbul, Türkiye

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

English Tour from Sultanahmet

  • Activity duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes2h 30m
    2h 30m
  • English

Small-Group Tour
Meeting point is Sultanahmet: Choose this option to meet your guide at Ersoy Bufe kiosk in Sultanahmet Square (Old Town).
Starting point:
Ersoy Bufe, Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd No:40, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye

Language options: English
Price details
RM 355.88 x 2 AdultsRM 711.76
Total
Price is RM 711.76

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Headsets for clear audio throughout the visit
  • Inclusions
    2.5 hours walking tour at a relaxed pace
  • Inclusions
    For cruise ship arrivals, tram ride to old town is included
  • Inclusions
    For cruise ship arrivals, Galata Port start point is available
  • Inclusions
    Pre-reserved tickets for the Hagia Sophia
  • Inclusions
    Expert local guide with in-depth knowledge of Ottoman history
  • Inclusions
    Guided tour for the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia

Know before you book

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are functioning mosques and they can be closed to visitors for any reason, even without pre-notice (for a high-level state visit, for example)
    • Istanbul has notoriously bad traffic. Give more time to get to the meeting spot than you may have planned
    • Tickets to both sites are timed and expire within 5 to 10 minutes.
    • It is not possible to join the tour after it has started due to strict admission regulations.
    • Women are required to wear a headscarf when entering the mosque.
    • BOTH men and women should wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees. Shorts, sleeveless tops, and other revealing attire are not permitted inside.
    • You are not allowed to bring signs, symbols, banners, flags, documents, drawings, or any materials representing political, ideological, or religious beliefs inside the Hagia Sophia.
    • 'Starting from Galata Port' option is available for cruise guests
    • Please note that skip-the-line access is available for adults only. Children under the age of 7 do not benefit from this access.
    • Please note that children under 7 are not permitted on this tour.
    • Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
    • Hagia Sophia is currently undergoing restoration, which may temporarily affect visibility in some areas. These works are carried out independently of the tour.
    • Starting from Galata Port, includes a tram ride with your guide

Activity itinerary

Sultanahmet Square

  • 15m
  • Admission ticket included
Explore Istanbul’s landmark monuments on a small-group walking tour with an expert local guide. Begin in Sultanahmet Square, the historic heart of the Old Town, where your guide will introduce the city’s Byzantine and Ottoman past before you set out to explore its monuments. Skip-the-line admission tickets are included. Arriving by cruise ship? Choose the Galataport meeting option to meet your guide at the port and ride the tram together to Sultanahmet. The tram fare from Galataport to the Old Town is included with this option.

Blue Mosque

  • 1h
Step inside the Blue Mosque with your expert guide. Bypass the long lines at the imperial Ottoman mosque commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I, which gives the Sultanahmet neighborhood its name. Look up at the sweeping domes and admire the blue İznik tiles as your guide explains the mosque’s architecture, the symbolism of its decoration and its role as an active place of worship. After your visit, take in the view of the domes and minarets from the spacious courtyard, then follow your guide on a leisurely stroll through the surrounding streets of Sultanahmet.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit Hagia Sophia with pre-reserved tickets and discover its central place in Istanbul’s Greek Orthodox history. Your guide will explain how this Byzantine basilica became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and how each era left its mark on the building. Inside, look up at the vast dome and see how Byzantine mosaics and marble columns sit alongside Ottoman calligraphy and İznik tiles. Hear the story of the Virgin Mary mosaic and learn why Ottoman sultans chose to be buried in tombs on the grounds of Hagia Sophia.

Hippodrome

  • 15m
Between monument visits, take a stroll through Sultanahmet Square, once the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Pause to take in the view of the Blue Mosque and see the obelisks that still stand along the former racetrack. Your guide will bring the arena to life with stories of Byzantine chariot races and explain why it became a stage for imperial ceremonies and public uprisings.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Sultanahmet Square
    • Istanbul, Turkiye

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Ersoy Bufe
    • 40 At Meydanı Caddesi
    • 34122, Binbirdirek, İstanbul, Türkiye
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Galataport Saat Kulesi Meydanı
    • No:5 Gümrük Muhafaza Kısım Amirliği
    • 34433, Kılıçali Paşa, İstanbul, Türkiye

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